Gerardo returns to ALMS at Long Beach

With school, work, and family time, I've not had time to write a press release or a personal log, so I'll start with this and write more later.

I've been asked to drive a LMPC prototype at Long Beach this coming weekend. I will drive a car entered by Performance Tech, teaming with the young and fast Kyle Marcelli.

The LMPC is an Oreca carbon tub, much like a typical LMP car, but with a spec V8 engine and many spec chassis parts, from shocks to springs, gear sets, even the steering wheel is spec. In Europe they are called Formula LeMans. Here, the ALMS has combined LMP1 and LMP2 into one LMP class, and added these new spec cars as LMP Challenge, or LMPC. They are slighly heavier and slightly less powerful than the LMP2 Lola Mazda I drove in 2008, but still a wonderful challenge.

I've been working with this team on a coaching and consulting basis for about the last year or so. For now, this is a one-race deal. Of course I would love to drive more races, but there are always things out of my control. All I can do now is do a good job for the team and help Kyle to learn Long Beach.

As you know, there is a ton of work behind the scenes to make a race happen. My good friend Anthony Nicolosi, also one of my drivers in Prototype Lites, has put in a huge effort to make this race possible for our team. Additionally, team manager Brent ONeill and his crew work as hard as any top team I've been with.

I cannot find the words to describe how happy I am to be back in driver mode! Watching video, studying data and notes, discussing issues with Kyle and the team leadership, planning strategy, thinking about corporate guests and fans, wow, I miss it so much.

Thanks for letting me share. If you have the time, the race will be on SPEED this Saturday April 17 at 8PM Eastern.

Many thanks to all of you who have supported me over the years. I could not have done this without you. And special thanks to my family, who have given me immeasurable support in recent months.